I just came across a post I'd shared during the early days of the quarantine. It was a list of the routines and approaches I was relying on to get me through the days with my sanity still in tact.

This is what I wrote then of my "survival rituals":

Getting outside several times a day is a biggie. We often go for a family walk at the beginning and end of the day, and I spend time outside watching my kids play.
Starting my day sitting in stillness, journalling, or reading a good book before my family gets up.
Setting my expectations very, very low.

For work, I pick just 3 things to complete over the 5 days.
Each day, I make sure I connect with 1 person outside my family in a meaningful way.
With my kids, I have them complete just one piece of "work" (ie. schoolwork or a chore).

My survival rituals prioritized nature, quiet contemplation, meaningful connection and simplicity - all of which are among my top values.

So perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that in non-crisis times, every single one of these rituals contributes to my very best days, when I feel the most fulfilled, centered and alive.

It turns out that my recipe for surviving is the same for THRIVING.

What about you? What rituals felt sacred to you during the quarantine? What do they say about what's most important to you? And, what might be possible in your life if you continued them now?

Daily bike rides with family keep me nourished and energized.